There is an urgent need for increased efforts to prevent and treat chronic periodontitis, a form of gum disease, to reduce the risk for head and neck cancer, according to researchers at the University of Buffalo.
Led by Dr. Mine Tezal at Buffalo, periodontitis is an independent risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Bleeding Gums - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
Bleeding gums is a condition in which blood leaks from the gums and the spaces between the teeth. Gingivitis and periodontitis are the causes of bleeding gums which result in pain and swollen gums.
Bleeding gums is a condition in which blood leaks from the gums and the spaces between the teeth. Gingivitis and periodontitis are the causes of bleeding gums which result in pain and swollen gums.
Chronic periodontitis is characterized by progressive loss of the bone and soft tissue attachment that surround the teeth.
The researchers assessed the role of chronic periodontitis on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, as well as the individual roles on three subsites: oral cavity, oropharyngeal and laryngeal.
Gum Recession | Gingival Recession - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Gum recession or receding gums is a gum disease due to periodontitis. It causes loose teeth, bleeding gums and other dental problems.
Gum recession or receding gums is a gum disease due to periodontitis. It causes loose teeth, bleeding gums and other dental problems.
The results of the study revealed that chronic periodontitis might represent a clinical high-risk profile for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
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When they stratified the relationship by tobacco use, they found that the association persisted in those patients who never used tobacco.
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Oral Cancer | Mouth Cancer - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Oral cancer is a cancer that develops in any part of the mouth. It is more common in men over 40.
Oral cancer is a cancer that develops in any part of the mouth. It is more common in men over 40.
However, this interaction, although statistically significant, was not very strong.
"Confirmatory studies with more comprehensive assessment of smoking, such as duration, quantity and patterns of use, as well as smokeless tobacco history are needed," said Tezal.
"Our study also suggests that chronic periodontitis may be associated with poorly differentiated tumor status in the oral cavity. Continuous stimulation of cellular proliferation by chronic inflammation may be responsible for this histological type. However, grading is subjective and we only observed this association in the oral cavity. Therefore, this association may be due to chance and needs further exploration," she added.
Andrew Olshan, Ph.D., said these results lend further support to the potential importance of poor oral health in this form of cancer.
Olshan said, "Although the study is comparatively small, the researchers were able to also see an association between bone loss and the risk of head and neck cancer."
The results of the study have been published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Source-ANI
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